i'm dreaming

of a WHITE Christmas....

white. as in baptism white. ha. ha

#lamemissionjokes

yeeeee. JACKIE GOT BAPTIZED YESTERDAY.

and it was probably the best baptism i've ever been to!

there were soooo many people in attendance, we had to move into the chapel

and SO many of them were non-members!

it was a BEAUTIFUL, moving, uplifting baptism

jackie bore the sweetest testimony

the spirit was so strong

she's already dreaming up mission plans for next year.

I. LOVE. HER.

and her mom.

and her sis, marcela.

who i TOTALLY met over a year ago...in Burley!

her sister came into town late saturday night and as soon as they walked in

we said hi & they go, "we've met you! didn't you serve in Burley?!!!!"

hahah it was awesome. as soon as they brought that up, I instantly remembered meeting them in a restaurant last year and dying over what a beautiful couple they were. when i met them last year, they told me their story and how she joined the church and they were sealed in the temple just the year before-- NEVER in my wildest thoughts would I have thought-- "okay...see ya in a YEAR at your sister's baptism?!?!???" hahaha God is just so good. I LOVE that He is in the details. I can just see Him mapping that out and thinking, ya...that's gonna make them happy...

 

anyway. i couldn't help but think of how HAPPY this mission has made me

how much it has helped me grow and BECOME a little better.

and how much i have LOVED siding up with the Savior and proclaiming His truth

i love love love this time of year.

i love the feeling of love for one another that FLOODS the earth

i love our Savior

I KNOW HE LIVES

& i'm so grateful for the LIGHT and the HOPE that He brought into the world.

CANNOT WAIT TO SKYPE YA'LL ON THURSDAY.

get ready, yo.

xoxo,

sister ramsey

'tis the season!

CAN I NEVER LEAVE JEROME? PLEASE?

i loooooove it here!!

i don't want to leave next transfer!

start praying for a christmas miracle lol

we are SO busy. like up to our brains busy! meeting our new ward and setting up appointments with our investigators-- our next free evening apt slot is SUNDAY. we are booked a week out! haha. it's awesome. we are talking to as many people as we can and trying to help our investigators progress. we have had 10 people at church the last two weeks-- BUT having a hard time setting dates b/c of parent permission, holiday busyness, flakey on apts, waiting for mawwage or on probation! bah! but i love them all!

 

but let me tell you about miss JACKIE. she is my little mexi sister. srlsy.

 

we have been over to her house multiple times this week to teach and she is SO awesome. we met her a couple weeks ago... she is a senior in High School and is just on fuego?! (they're helping me with my spanish lawlz). her mom is one of my favorite people. she is this AMAZING little woman who is so close to the spirit and filled with so much love... & she makes BOMB spanish food! she took the missionary lessons like 15 years ago and loves the church and knows it's true but won't get baptized with out her husband...who is staunch Catholic. she is so excited that Jackie is becoming Mormon and really wants us to teach her son, too. he's a junior and not too interested....yet! they are the best and i'm so excited for Jackie! she's already thinking about a mission! haha! she's getting baptized a few days before Christmas and it's going to be beautiful! i LOVE her!

sister draper is awesome. she shared her story with me this week and ah! it just inspires me to slow down and be more aware of others and just LOVE them. she bears a pure and simple testimony to everyone we talk to and it's beautiful.

we have the most insane week this week.

one exchange.

THREE christmas parties.

one being our mission talent show/ devotional.

ahhhhh. its going to be the best!

 

aaaand i just talked this guy into selling us a 6' tree for TEN BUCKS

#missionaryperks

tooooootally pulled the "i'm so far from home" card.

sold.

hahahaha im so happy about it!!!

i've never bought a tree before lolol

its sitting in a bucket of water with a beach towel around it #classy

we are going to decorate it now!

'TIS THE SEASON.

i lOVE this time of year. i LOVE our Savior. i LOVe declaring His gospel. i LOve this place, these people! i LOVE being a missionary!

 

xoxo,

sister ramsey

 

ps HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAYLEE SUE. miss that dog!

let us cheerfully do all things

PEOPLE, people, people

"name that movie"

"McLintock?!"

^^ miss you dad

 

another crazy week.

doesn't every missionary say that?

haha we didn't stop all week.

sis walker left me on mon (saddest day ever)

i was on an exchange all of Tuesday.

got Sister Draper on Wednesday-

apts every hour all day...

Thanksgiving all day Thursday.

SO MUCH FOOD.

zone meeting on Friday. planning.

moved apartments on Saturday.

made our rounds to invite people to church

taught a few lessons

invited people to be baptized

help set up a Christmas tree for some less actives in our ward!

its here! christmas time is here! and i am so happy about it.

....and then...

Sundays are the best days.

we had a crazy day yesterday...

trying to meet our new ward and get things figured out.

spent the day feeling slightly overwhelmed at everything we need to do

and all the people we need to go meet...

 

BUT yesterday, once we finally got home...

i was feeling antsy & I jumped into the scriptures

because I didn't get my personal study time

(#millionhoursofchurchmeetings)

 

& I read section 123 of the Doctrine and Covenants and reflected on how grateful I am to be here. I've said that a lot... but this woman made a comment in church yesterday that got me thinking about my time as a missionary and how it's allowed me to serve. she talked about how OVERWHELMED she gets every time we hear about "Hastening the Work" in church...her voice shook as she expressed, "what more can I do?" Without any judgement towards her, I thought a lot about what she said.

I'm so so grateful for this time in my life I have to give everything to the Lord. all my time, talents, and attention. its stretching me and showing me how fun it is to side up with and serve with Him. I'm grateful to have this time to serve in this capacity... I know it won't be mine forever but I want to make every moment count. In 123 the prophet is writing a letter to the Saints from Liberty Jail about their duty and I just love it.

11 And also it is an imperative duty that we owe to all the rising generation, and to all the pure in heart—

12 For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it—

13 Therefore, that we should waste and wear out our lives in bringing to light all the hidden things of darkness, wherein we know them; and they are truly manifest from heaven—

14 These should then be attended to with great earnestness....

17 Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.

I hope you "cheerfully do all that lies in your power" to share the message of our Savior.

no act of kindness is too small- this is the perfect time of year to reach out

and lift and love those around you and share THE GIFT of our Savior.

I know Christ lives.

I know His gospel has been restored to

BLESS AND LIGHT UP THE WORLD.

may it light up your heart this Christmas season.

love love love you all

xoxo,

sister ramz